Regular Physical Activity Equals Drug Therapy in Reducing Colon Cancer Recurrence
Colorectal Cancer - Exercise Might Be the Surprising Solution
In the ever-evolving battle against cancer, a new contender has emerged: exercise. A recent study led by Canadian scientists reveals that a structured exercise program following surgery and chemotherapy for colon cancer could significantly lower the risk of cancer recurrence compared to traditional drug treatments.
According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide, accounting for approximately 10% of all cancer cases. The standard treatments for colorectal cancer include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. After initial treatment, patients are encouraged to adopt a healthy lifestyle and, in some cases, undergo additional drug treatments to minimize the chances of recurrence.
The Exercise Revolution
Now, a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) has challenged this norm. The researchers, who were part of the Colon Health and Lifelong Exercise Change (CHALLENGE) trial, studied 889 patients with stage 3 or high-risk stage 2 colon cancer. They recruited participants from various countries, including Canada, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.
All participants had undergone surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. They ranged in age from 19 to 84 years, with a median age of 61. Most participants were overweight or obese, and none exercised more than 150 minutes per week before the trial.
The researchers randomly assigned participants to one of two groups. The exercise group, consisting of 445 patients, worked with a certified physical activity consultant for three years. They aimed to achieve the equivalent of 3-4 brisk 45-60 minute walks a week but could choose the type, frequency, and intensity of their aerobic exercise. The health-education group (444 patients) received general health-education materials promoting physical activity and healthy nutrition in addition to standard surveillance.
Results: Exercise vs. Health Advice
At a median follow-up of 7.9 years, 93 people in the exercise group and 131 in the health-education group experienced a recurrence of their cancer, a new primary cancer, or had died. In total, 107 died from any cause - 41 in the exercise group, 66 in the health-education group.
People in the exercise group did not lose weight, but they showed a significant improvement in physical functioning and a longer disease-free survival. The annual incidence of recurrence, new primary cancer, or death was 3.7% in the exercise group compared with 5.4% in the health-education group. In other words, the exercise group had a 28% lower risk of cancer recurrence compared to the health-education group.
The Power of Exercise
The most important finding of the study was the overall improvement in survival. According to lead author Kerry S. Courneya, PhD, the improvement in survival is a crucial point for future patients with bowel cancer.
Julie Gralow, MD, the Chief Medical Officer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, said the findings suggest that exercise could be "better than a drug" for cancer patient outcomes, as it does not have the related side effects. However, she cautioned that the intention was not to suggest that drugs be omitted in favor of exercise but to compare the benefits in terms of cancer recurrence and death rates, considering the side effects.
Gralow added that while there are effective drugs that help prevent recurrence in patients with specific colon cancer mutations, "exercise's benefit in colon cancer patients is not restricted to these specific mutations."
The Cost-Effectiveness of Exercise
A supervised exercise program can also be much cheaper than medication. Courneya emphasized that the intervention was perhaps 3,000 to 5,000 Canadian dollars, while it is not uncommon for some cancer drugs to cost tens of thousands and even reach 100,000 dollars.
In conclusion, a structured exercise program after surgery and chemotherapy for colon cancer could significantly lower the risk of cancer recurrence compared to traditional drug treatments. The benefits of structured exercise are not limited to select patient groups, and its cost-effectiveness makes it an appealing addition to standard cancer care.
- The colorectal cancer realm is witnessing a shift, as a new player enters the fray: exercise.
- Evidence from a groundbreaking study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), indicates that an exercise program, following surgery and chemotherapy for colon cancer, could potentially decrease the risk of cancer recurrence more significantly than conventional drug treatments.
- Encouraging patients to adopt a regular exercise routine, in addition to the standard treatments like surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, may help lower the chances of colorectal cancer recurrence.
- The science of oncology, health-and-wellness, fitness, and exercise intersects in this study, revealing the profound impact exercise can have on disease-free survival after colorectal cancer treatment.
- The CHALLENGE trial, including researchers from Canada, Australia, the US, the UK, and France, showed that a structured exercise program, coupled with reduced side effects, can offer a cost-effective alternative to some expensive cancer drugs in the treatment of colorectal cancer.
- In the face of escalating cancer treatment costs, the cost-effectiveness of a structured exercise program in reducing the risk of colorectal cancer recurrence makes it an appealing best practice in the broader regime of medical-conditions care and fitness-and-exercise encouragement.
